Missing Hazleton woman found dead In apartment

Authorities made a grisly discovery in their search for a mother who vanished Friday when they found her strangled body during a search of her Hazleton apartment on Tuesday.

Maria M. Brea, 32, a doting mother who never picked up her children from school Friday, was found dead in the apartment she shared with her ex-boyfriend at 343 E. Diamond Ave.

Acting Luzerne County Coroner William Lisman said an autopsy determined Brea died of asphyxia due to strangulation. Police were seeking her boyfriend, Oscar Lozano Garcia - with whom she had recently broken up - for questioning in the death but were not calling him a suspect.

"The investigation into this homicide is continuing and although no arrests have yet been made, the public should be rest assured that all of the involved law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to keep the public safe," said a statement from city police Chief Frank DeAndrea and the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office.

City police arrived at Brea's apartment about 9 a.m. Tuesday to serve a search warrant issued after Brea was reported missing Saturday, according to police. She failed to pick up her children from school Friday and her sister last heard from Brea about 1 p.m. Friday, police said.

As officers entered the home, Brea's worried family members waited for investigators to give them answers. Family members declined comment.

DeAndrea would not say in what part of the apartment Brea's body was found. A deputy coroner arrived at 10:45 a.m., leaving shortly thereafter. The coroner returned later in the afternoon and left with her body just before 2 p.m.

The missing person search warrant was not returned to Magisterial District Judge Joseph Zola's office by Tuesday afternoon, so it was unclear what police were seeking in their initial search.

Antonio Bermudez, 19, said he knew of Brea's family and said she would always say "hello" to those in the neighborhood. His aunt, Melisha Garcia, said the friendly woman is well known in the neighborhood because of her pleasant demeanor.

Garcia was upset, calling Brea's disappearance a tragedy for her family, especially her two young children.

Garcia said Brea is a dedicated mother and found it very strange that she didn't make it to pick up her children from school Friday.

"She's always with her kids," Garcia said.

Luzerne County detectives and the FBI also are assisting with the investigation.